title: The dose and volume-response relationship of an ethanol-induced tibial nerve block in a rabbit model.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to observe the dose-response relationship in an ethanol-induced tibial nerve block in a rabbit model.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixteen New Zealand white rabbits were separated into three groups that received increasing injections of 100% ethanol (0.1, 0.3, and 0.5 ml). All tibial nerves were successfully located with a nerve stimulator. Compound muscle action potentials were measured before injection; 1, 2, 4, and 7 days after injection; and 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 wks after injection. Histologic studies were performed to evaluate the destruction of the nerves and surrounding muscles.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The compound muscle action potential amplitude significantly decreased (P < 0.01) on the first day after ethanol injection in all groups. The compound muscle action potential amplitude in the 0.1-ml group recovered to baseline by week 2, whereas the 0.3-ml group recovered by week 8. The 0.5-ml group did not recover by week 4 (P < 0.01), but observations had to stop because of severe complications. The authors found that the degrees of axonal degeneration and muscle desmoplasia were related to injection volume.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There was a positive linear relationship between ethanol injection volume and effect on compound muscle action potential. The safe and effective volume of 100% ethanol for a tibial nerve block is 0.3 ml in a rabbit model.
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.
authors.forename: Xiao
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Bing
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Shouguo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Jianan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000200:Action Potentials / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D000431:Ethanol / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007267:Injections; D023421:Models, Animal; D009407:Nerve Block; D011817:Rabbits; D013979:Tibial Nerve / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants; D000431:Ethanol